Symptoms and Prevention

The human body and the machines are very much alike. The functioning of both fades away with time. The changes in skin texture, body weight, activities and the outlook towards life are the visible changes. The organs inside the body also undergo the changes with advancing age.

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the common health issues in the midlife. The under functioning of the thyroid is known as hypothyroidism. The condition is found to be more common in females than in males.

Importance of proper functioning of thyroid gland

Located on the base of the neck this tiny butterfly shaped gland is directly and indirectly important for maintaining a healthy body with proper working of all the organs.

Thyroid hormone maintains the proper working of the respiratory system, reproductive system, body temperature, muscles strength, heart rate and weight of the body.

We all are aware that all the diseases arise from the gut. Hence proper digestion is the crucial part in having a diseased free body.

The hormones secreted by thyroid glands improves the metabolism by enhancing the rate of conversion of food into energy.

Hypothyroidism and its symptoms

The under active thyroid might not always come with symptoms and when it is ignored or left untreated it might result in high blood pressure, high level of cholesterol and related heart diseases. It is a serious problem and so there must be a routine thyroid test after a certain age.

One may gain weight due to less production of energy and storage of the remaining calories as a fat.

Mental health of females falling under higher age group are commonly affected. Psychological problems such as depression, loss of memory, loss of interest in things that are important, not being able to concentrate properly etc are some of the mental health issues linked to hypothyroidism.

• Skin becomes dry and flaky.

• One might experience hair fall and thinning of hair.

• Pain in joints and muscles.

• Slow metabolism and poor digestion leads to frequent constipation due to decreased gut motility.

• In young women the menstrual flow and menstrual cycle both are affected. There might be heavy flow or absence of periods or frequent occurrence of periods.

• The person suffering from hypothyroidism might talk slowly and is also observed with slow body movements.

• Celiac disease is commonly found in hypothyroid patients.

• Shortness of breath and the person is not able to exercise to the level of his/her capacity.

• Reproductive abnormalities in females such as menorrhagia, amenorrhea, deceased fertility and early abortion is observed.

In men the low level of thyroid glands results in decrease in sex drive and affects the erectile function.

How to prevent hypothyroidism

There is no way to prevent hypothyroidism but one may prevent the seriousness by early intervention. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. If any of the symptoms is found then one must consult the healthcare provider for better management and appropriate treatment.

1.Hypothyroidism can be managed by using medicines such as anti-thyroid, oral hypoglycemic agents, sulfonamides, cough medicines etc.

2.Hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency must consume fish, milk, eggs and iodized salts. Consume foods rich in fiber and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Selenium rich diet such as sunflower seeds is important for people suffering from hypothyroidism.

One must avoid foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and fatty foods such as junk foods, butter, mayonnaise etc.

3.Stress management can relieve you from the thyroid problem. De stressing yourself is known to balance the hormones and hence is good for thyroid problems.

Conclusion

Although there are no preventive measures for hypothyroidism but with the proper watch of the symptoms one can easily manage the under active thyroid through recommended medications and a balanced diet plan. Problems related to thyroid do not occur over a night and also you can’t expect to get rid of it overnight. However, following the measures for self care in a long run can have a drastic positive effect on the health when compared to people who are least concerned about their health.